"See Emahry Run!"

Emahry was a little slow to begin here walking life, choosing instead to scoot around on here bottom until she was 13 months old. Now at 19 months, you would never know that she was a hesitant walker. She walks, runs, or dances all day long.

Since Emahry's feet look just like her Daddy's (weak ankles, flat feet, 4 re-constructive surgeries) we were concerned about finding shoes with enough ankle support. When she first started walking Grand-daddy & Maw generously bought her first pair of shoes and they worked perfectly, but little feet only stay little for so long.

With her feet outgrowing her shoes, we began looking for other supportive options. We came across a company called See Kai Run from our friend, Kristin's, blog. Their shoes are perfectly designed for growing feet by allowing room to move but also offering enough support. We also love that they carry ankle boots for even more ankle support. We wrote to the company and asked them to donate a pair for us to review on our blog...and they did!

The box arrived one morning and a few days later, we put the shoes to the test. Emahry immediately liked them. Tim and I love how flexible the soles are. They are rubber and sturdy, but bend easily for toddler movement. The shoe itself is made of soft leather. We are really enjoying these shoes. The only negative we could find is the price, but these are definitely quality shoes.

See Kai Run carries shoes in toddler sizes 3-9 in their See Kai Run line. They also carry shoes for babies 0-18 months old in their Smaller line and toddler size 9 to kid size 3 in their Eleven brand.

Here are a couple of our favorite looks from each brand. Click on the photo to get more details from the online source or visit http://www.seekairun.com/ for lots of other great options.

Smaller



See Kai Run



Eleven




Head on over the See Kai Run to take advantage of SALE prices and FREE US ground shipping through January 15th, 2009.

New Year Fun

Kelli at There's is no place like home is doing a blogging year in review feature. Would you like to join in the fun? Here's how:

With the New Year right around the corner, this is the perfect time for a peek through the past year of blogging. I would love for you to join in with me!

Post the first sentence of your first blog post of each month. You can
also add a favorite picture from each month.

Since we just started our blog in September we'll start there.

September

A few nights ago, the three of us made whole wheat pitas together.

October

Our son, Jonathan's tiny feet.

November

I came across these photos of Emahry playing with my

button collection & thought I'd share it.

December

As many of you know, I greatly enjoy the benefits of babywearing.

Now join in the fun & visit all the other blogging year in reviews at There Is No Place Like Home.

Remember to join us here for our first Five or Fewer Friday this Friday, January 2nd. Read all about it here.

How God was Great in 2008

This year has been filled with many great & not-so-great experiences, but through it all God has been faithfully drawing us to Himself. He has been teaching us to rely on his strength instead of our own and has continued to show us how amazing his love truly is.

Here are a just a few of the numerous ways God has been great this year.

In February, we discovered that our house was completely uninsulated, causing us a $500+ electric bill. Through generous family and friends we were able to completely insulate our house within the month which drastically cut our expenses.



In June, Tim survived a very serious auto accident. Even though we are still trying to work things out with insurance, we are truly blessed that Tim is still with us.


In September, our son, Jonathan, was born 4 weeks early. Weighing in at only 4 lbs. & 14 oz. we were totally amazed by how healthy he was.


This year has definitely been a learning experience as we continue to trust God to provide. We are so thankful for all the ways he meets our needs!

For more Gratituesday posts visit Heavenly Homemakers.

Etsy Shop Showcase ~ Marsu Mama

I've recently had the pleasure of working with Kelly, the owner of Marsu Mama, to add another pouch style sling to our growing collection. Marsu Mama offers baby slings, or "the pouch you weren't born with," starting at only $15. Kelly loves baby wearing and wants to make it possible for others by keeping her slings very affordable. This is by far one of the most reasonable prices I've seen for quality constructed slings.

Marsu Mama slings are completely custom and personally sized for the best possible fit. They are also shipped quickly so that you can begin enjoying them as soon as possible.

Our new sling arrived promptly and we began using it within the hour. The fabric was slightly thicker than the average quilter's type cotton fabric, which made it feel more supportive. The pocket is also slightly deeper than some other slings I've tried. This came in handy when I wore it to the store a few days later as I was able to completely cover Jonathan while we were outside in the cold.

This sling feels a bit roomier in general and Jonathan was able to nurse successfully. Later when he fell asleep I was also able to take him out of the sling and lay him down without disturbing him.

Emahry enjoys this sling also, and was very excited to get her own ride with Mama.

I would definitely recommend Marsu Mama to anyone who is looking for a comfortable, well-made, and affordable pouch-style sling.

Here are a few of the custom slings Marsu Mama is offering now. Click on the photo to view the listing or visit the entire shop at http://www.marsumama.etsy.com/. If you'd like to contact Kelly about ordering a sling you can e-mail her at marsumama @ ymail . com (remove the spaces).

All of the patterned slings shown below are only $20 (plus s&h). The solid brown sling is only $15 (plus s&h).



If you order a sling, please tell Kelly that you read about her shop here at A Heart For Home.

Interested in having your shop featured in our Etsy Shop Showcase? Leave me a comment & find out more here. Do you have products that you'd like me to do a review for, but don't sell on Etsy? Just leave me a comment with your e-mail address & I'll contact you about doing a review.

Also, view all of our Etsy Shop Showcases listed in the left sidebar.

What types of reviews would you like to see? I'd greatly appreciate your ideas, so please leave me a comment.

Merry Christmas!

We'll be taking a break from our blog until some time next week.

Before signing off we wanted to wish you all a very merry Christmas and to encourage you to remember the wonderful gift of Jesus.

We pray that your spirit will be filled with awe at what an amazing God we have and that your heart will be filled with his love this Christmas and throughout the coming year.

Merry Christmas,
Tim, Allyson, Emahry, and Jonathan


Remember to join us here for Five or Fewer Friday, beginning January 2nd.

Etsy Shop Showcase ~ {studio jk vinyl}

Our adventure in decorating with vinyl decals continues with Studio jk, the etsy shop of crafter and professional organizer, Jamie Kay. The shop began by offering vinyl labels to help keep organized spaces neat and tidy, but has now grown to include home decorating vinyl decals.

Studio jk offers a wide range of decals including flowers, sayings, trees, labels, monograms and more. Studio jk vinyl is great to use on most smooth, dry surfaces such as walls, windows, mirrors, wood, plastic or metal.

Vinyl decals are a great way to decorate your home. They can be applied in very little time and look as though you spent hours painting your wall. These are also wonderful for anyone who wants a quick fix to plain, boring walls. Another benefit is that the decals can be removed without damaging your walls.

We decided on this Christ is the Center of our Home decal, which reads Christ: the center of our home, a guest at every meal, a silent listener to every conversation. I just love this saying and the circular design of the decal. This entire graphic, measuring approximately 14" x 14", comes as one complete, ready-to-stick decal. What a great way to add a statement of faith to your home. This decal, which retails for $22 (plus shipping & handling), is available in 17 colors.

Studio jk provides quick and safe shipment on all of their decals. Our decal arrived safely rolled in a cardboard tube. Inside, along with the decal were detailed instructions for installing our new decal.

Looking for a great gift, but unsure of which decal to choose? Studio jk offers gift certificates in any amount starting at $10.

Here are a few more of my favorite decals from Studio jk (http://www.studiojk.etsy.com/).

Click on the photos to view the listing or just browse through the entire shop. There are a lot of great designs to choose from.



If you make a purchase, please let Studio jk know that you found out about the shop at A Heart For Home.

Interested in having your shop featured in our Etsy Shop Showcase? Leave me a comment & find out more here. Do you have products that you'd like me to do a review for, but don't sell on Etsy? Just leave me a comment with your e-mail address & I'll contact you about doing a review.

Also, view all of our Etsy Shop Showcases listed in the left sidebar.

What types of reviews would you like to see? I'd greatly appreciate your ideas, so please leave me a comment.

Gift Wrapping For Pennies Or Less

Here are a few ways we are wrapping Christmas gifts this year without spending a penny.

1. Reuse gift bags and tissue paper.

2. Wrap gifts with newsprint and unused newspaper. Use your old newspapers or call your local paper and see if they give away their unused ends of paper. I used to get these when I was teaching. The printing machines can't pull all the paper from the roll, so the ends of the roll get thrown away unless someone wants them. The paper is about as wide as wrapping paper and can be decorated with markers, stickers, stamps, or just trimmed with a pretty ribbon or bow.

3. Re-purpose clementine crates. This was actually Tim's idea and it's a great one. We're giving a lot of meal baskets with jar mixes as gifts this year. All the jars will look so pretty nestled in these cute little crates amongst festive tissue paper.

Be sure to check out our Recycled Magazine Gift Bow Tutorial to find step-by-step instructions on making a bow like this one.



Check out more Frugal Friday posts at Biblical Womanhood.

Remember to join us here for Five or Fewer Friday starting January 2nd. Look here for all the details.

Other Frugal Friday Posts:
Homemade Baby Wipes
Eating Out For Less

Etsy Shop Showcase ~ Munchkie Baby

I recently had the pleasure of ordering two slings from Courtney, the owner of Munchkie Baby. Courtney enjoys baby wearing and wants to encourage other parents to expererience the joys of carrying their babies so close to their hearts.

Our two Munchkie Baby slings arrived quickly and we began enjoying them right away. The sizing was based on a simple measurement from the outside of one shoulder to the opposite hip and is very accurate. The pocket on these slings is the perfect depth, neither too shallow nor too deep. The slings are truely reversible with a cotton print on the outside and a solid co-ordinating flannel on the inside. The flannel gives the sling nice support and is so soft and cuddly. Jonathan nestled right into this sling and fell asleep peacefully.

We've been enjoying our slings at home and while we're out and about. These slings are so easy to use, making them perfect for new and experienced babywearers alike. Pouch slings also have a variety of holds which can be used for babies and toddlers. Munckie Baby slings come neatly wrapped around a sling instruction card (first photo) with an attached gift tag making them a perfect gift for a new mom or dad.

Right now, Courtney is offering the following three color combinations. Click on the photo to view each listing or visit the Munckie Baby shop at http://www.munchkiebaby.etsy.com/. These slings are available in size XS-XL.

If you order a sling, please tell Courtney that you read about her shop here at A Heart For Home.

Interested in having your shop featured in our Etsy Shop Showcase? Leave me a comment & find out more here. Do you have products that you'd like me to do a review for, but don't sell on Etsy? Just leave me a comment with your e-mail address & I'll contact you about doing a review.

Also, view all of our Etsy Shop Showcases listed in the left sidebar.

What types of reviews would you like to see? I'd greatly appreciate your ideas, so please leave me a comment.

Handmade Gift Bow Tutorial

I made some of these gift bows last spring with my sister and then completely forgot about them until last week when I started thinking about wrapping Christmas gifts. They are very simple to make and are just another small way to live frugally and green by reusing your old magazines. I've been using all of those baby magazines we when given by the hospital when Jonathan was born.

The Supplies:

1 magazine page

scissors

small hole punch (or a sharp object for poking a small hole)

1 metal brad

Step 1: Cut across the magazine page to make nine 3/4 to 1 inch strips.

Step 2: Start with one strip and make a loop at one end.

Step 3: Turn the strip and make a loop at the other end.

Step 4: Use the small hole punch (or sharp object ~ be careful!!) to make a hole through all 3 layers of paper.

Step 5: Place the brad through the hole.

Step 6: Repeat with the remaining 8 strips.

Step 7: Open the brad to hold all the strips in place.

Attach the bow using double sided tape.

I will warn you, it is very hard to make just one. I know from experience. :)

Check out more Works For Me Wednesday posts here.

Some Other Crafty Posts:

Homemade Baby Wipes

Names of Jesus Garland

Simplifying Mealtime

With an 18 month old and a 2 1/2 month old making elaborate meals is about the last thing on my to do list. Not that our meals were ever very elaborate, but these days the simpler, the better.

I was reminded of this simple soup recipe when my friend Kristin posted about it a couple of months ago (see her post here). This is deliciously creamy soup that can be put together in about 20 minutes. As you can see we all really enjoyed it.

Cream Cheese Chicken Soup

1 small onion
1 T butter
3 c. chicken
broth
3 medium carrots, sliced (we didn't use these because Tim doesn't like
cooked carrots)
2 medium potatoes, cubed
2 c. cubed chicken
2 T parsley
s/p to taste
(we also added a little garlic salt)
1/4 c. flour or 2 T cornstarch
1 c. milk
8-oz. cream cheese

Sauté onion and butter. Add broth, carrots, and potatoes. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered. Simmer until veggies are tender. Add chicken, s/p, and parsley and heat through. Combine flour and milk until smooth. Add and bring to boil. Cook and stir until thick. Add cream cheese. Stir until smooth.

Do you enjoy trying new simple and inexpensive recipes? If so, then remember to join us here for Five or Fewer Friday starting Friday, January 2nd.

For more ideas for simplifying life visit Keeper of the Home.

A Few More Living Simply Saturday Posts:

Simply Celebrating Christmas

Keeper of My Heart

Involving Our Children

Related Posts:

Etsy Shop Showcase ~ Dydee Daze (cloth diapers, covers, wipes, & more)

Etsy Shop Showcase ~ Tasty Suite

As I continue to be fascinated with the possibilities of vinyl decals, I recently had the pleasure of working with the Etsy shop Tasty Suite. Their shop is packed full of unique decals of phrases, alphabets, origami, urban symbols, and much more.

Vinyl decals are a great way to decorate your home. They can be applied in very little time and look as though you spent hours painting your wall. These are also wonderful for those who are non-commital when it comes to decorating as the decals can be removed without damaging your walls.

As soon as I saw Tasty Suite's huge alphabet decal I knew it would be a great addition to our growing collection.

This decal is absolutely beautiful (I never thought I'd say that about the alphabet). The design of the letters and how they fit perfectly together makes this such an eyecatcher.

Don't let the complexity of the decal make you think it would be difficult to put up. The entire graphic, measuring 11.25” x 48.75”, comes as one complete, ready-to-stick decal. What a great way to add some fun learning to a child's bedroom or a conversation starter to the living room.

The huge vinyl alphabet, which retails for $46, is available in 18 colors and is made of high-quality vinyl with a matte finish that can be applied to any clean, smooth surface including walls, tiles, bathtubs, floors, mirrors, furniture, glass, and doors.

Tasty Suite provides quick and safe shipment on all of their decals. Our decal arrived safely rolled in a cardboard tube. Inside, along with the decal were detailed instructions for installing the decal.

Here are a few more of my favorite decals from Tasty Suite (http://www.tastysuite.etsy.com/ or visit them at http://www.tastysuite.com/).

Click on the photos to view the listing or just browse through the entire shop. There are a lot of great designs to choose from.




If you make a purchase, please let Tasty Suite know that you found out about the shop at A Heart For Home.

Interested in having your shop featured in our Etsy Shop Showcase? Leave me a comment & find out more here. Do you have products that you'd like me to do a review for, but don't sell on Etsy? Just leave me a comment with your e-mail address & I'll contact you about doing a review.

Also, view all of our Etsy Shop Showcases listed in the left sidebar.

What types of reviews would you like to see? I'd greatly appreciate your ideas, so please leave me a comment.